Tiltable roundabout



Oct. 27, 1925-4 E. F. TRolKE TILTABLE ROUNDBQUI,` .Y

Filed Mgrch l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet L E. F. TROIKE TILTABLE ROUNDABOUT Oa. 27x 1925. 1,559,476

Filed Mroh l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y ll'f" Patented `Oct., 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE-v ERNST F. TROIKE, 0F SANDUSKY, OHIO.

TILTABLE ROUNDABOUT.

Application led March 1, 1924. Serial No. 696,353.

To all w/iom t may concern.:

Bc 1t known that i, EnNs'r F. TRorKn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at y lof Figure 1;

Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio7 have invented certain new and usev travel in a horizontal plane during such rotation. v

In prior constructions of this character independent driving mechanism has been used for effecting the rotation of the platform and the gyratory movement thereofL and such latter movement effected through a tilting shaft connection. In eliminating the objections to the present constructions it is found desirable to directly drive the platform from a rotatable head by a single motor element Vand to secure the tilting action through a shaft adjustably mounted upon said head to effect the oscillation thereof about the central axis of the head.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction comprising a driven head having `a support mounted thereon for universal movement and a shaft connected to the universal joint and to-an actuating eccentric in order to provide a continued tilting movement of said shaft during the rotation of theA head.

Another object ofthe invention is toprovide an improved construction wherein the driven rotatable head is provided with a universal connection for supporting a'platform and a dependent tilting shaft having its lower end mounted'in a slide member carried by the head and adapted to be ac- A tiltable roundabout so that the rotation and y vention applied;

yupon the plate 14' and the gearA 15.

Figure 2 is a reduced top plan of Figure` 1 with the rooffsupports in section;

Figure 3v is a detail upon the line 3-3 Figure 4 is a central 4vertical section through the head and platform connections; i i

Figure V5 Figure 47 and y,

Figure 6 is a similar view on the line 6 6 of Figure 4. Y i

The inventiony has been herein disclosed as applied to a rotating and tilting platform for an amusement or recreation apparatus, but is capable of other applications in use and for the support of other is a section on the carrier members than those specificallyv shown. Inrthe form of the invention disclosed, the platform 10 .is carried by supporting beamsy 11 mounted upon a rotatable head V12, as hereinafter described. VThis headris line 5 5 of i supported upon a base of any suitable chary 'acter7 -for instance comprising the standards 13 provided with a top plate 14 upon which a master gear 15 is mounted 4for rotating the head 12. This gear may be provided with a ball bearing comprising a plate 16 provided with apertures lin which the bearing balls 118 are disposed and `bear This gear comprises a base plate having at its peripheral face the teeth 19 which mesh with a-driving pinion 2O carried by the shaft 21 from the power connection to be hereinafterdescribed. The head secured upper portion of the head is formed with a flange 24 to which the pivoting plate 25 vof the universaljoint issecured by boltsy26.

This plate is provided with opposite lugs Y 27 adapted to receive the pivots 28from a universal joint which also carries oppositely disposed pivots 29 upon which the yoke 30 carrying the supporting beams 11 is mounted.v This mounting may be effected in any preferred manner, for instance by kmeans of a clamping plate 31 secured against rotation upon the shank 32 of the yoke 30. Cooperating with the plate 31 is vthe base plate 33 of the cap 34 and retainl ing bolts 35 extend between the plates 31 -and 33 to securely support the beams or arms 11 in position. The upperportion of this cap 34 is provided with a flangey 36 from which the braces or stays 37 ie2'zte`nd Y and are secured at their outer ends 38 to the platform 10, as shown in Figure 1.

rlhe parts so far described provide for a rotary novement of the platform driven through the head, but in order to provide a tilting or gyrating motion during the oscil- Vi lation a tilting shaft` 40 is connected to the upper member of the universal joint by means. of a casing 41 secured to the shank of the vjoint and provided With a bushing 42 in contact With which the upper end 43 of the shaft bears. The lower end of the shaft 40 carries a yole 44 which is pivotally mounted upon pintles45 extending from opposite sides of a slide block 46. This block may be of any preferred construction but is herein shown as comprising opposite members provided With a bushingw 47 and secured together by the clamping,- bolts 48 so las to have a freely sliding` fit upon the slide bar 4,9, which is secured at its opposite ends to the lugs 50 projecting inivard from the side Walls of the head 12. rlhis bar may be attached in any desired mannen for instance by bolts as shown 51.

For the purpose of imparting' a reciprocatory movement to this bloclr and consequent tilting of the shaft, a pinion 52 is securely fixed to thetop plate 14 carried by the standards by means of an angular shank and clamping nut as indicated at 5i This pinion is lined relative to the rotatable parts which travel upon a roller bearing' 54 surrounding the shaft of the pinion.

The master gear or base plate has pivotally supported thereon an eccentric g3g-ear 55 mounted upon a post 56 and meshing with the pinion 52 so that in the rotative .movement of the master gear this eccentric gear has a planetary movement about the periphery of the pinion. `The gear 55 is also provided with a pivot 57 from which a linl-z 5.8 extends and a depending;l pivot 59 carried by the slidineg block. These several pivots are provided with bushings of the usual character.

For thev purpose of preventing` any strain or side play during the tilting movement of the platform the standards 13 may be provided vvith idler Wheels .60, which travel upon the llange22 of the head and are carried? by the stub. shafts 61 secured to the standard by. arms 642.

In the assembled relation of thel parts shown7 the platform 10 is provided with a series of seats to, accommodate passengers and these are surrounded by a suitable protecting rail 64 provided with an entrance gate as indicatedg by dotted lines in Figure 2, The platform isalso formed at its periphery Withv a dependentskirt 66 cooperatinp; with a similar member 67 formed upon the lifted floor' 68 of the enclosing structure. This door may also be provided With a protecting rail 69 having an entrance opening` 7 O at one side and an eXit 71. at the opposite side. The provision of the cooperating skirt members avoids an open space during` the rotation of the platform in its gyratinrg` movement and any danger to pas* Seng-ers incident thereto.

As showing` a desirable form of driving mechanism the shaft 21 for the pinion 2O may be provided with a gear 7 2 adapted to be driven by an electric motor 73 from which the circuit connections 7 4 entend to a proper control apparatus such as the parallel switch members 75 by which the motor may be reversed tochange the direction. of r tation of the platform. It is also' desirable under some conditions to provide a controlling` rheostat or resistance as at 76 rby which the speed of rotation of the motor may be controllech this member as Well as the switches being in circuit With a power line at 77. lt is also found convenient to Yprovide a braking mechanism for stopping thev rotation of the platform at the desired point so that the entrance gates will be properly aligned and for this purpose the shaft 21 may be provided with a brake drum 78 embraced by a strap or band 79 connected at one end to an actuating` lever 80 from which an operating rod 81 extends to the control station.

The entire structure may be suitably enclosed., for instance, by means of a roof 82 suitably suported by uprights 83 extending from ythe lined flooring' 58 surrounding the rotatable platform 10.

In the operation of the invention it- Will be seen that when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4 the tilting shaft is substantially in alignment` With the axis of the rotatable head andV the platform consequently in a horizontal position. The movement of this head causes the eccentric lgear to travel upon the pinion and througlfthe linlrv connection therefrom the slide member is rcciprocated. carrying' the base ofthe tilting; shaft so as to effect a gradual lateral deflection thererlif` as indicated by dotted lines in. Figure 4, thus producing a continued nyratory or tilting); nfiovcmentv of they platform duringr its rotation and finally restoring the platform toy aA horizontal position at the termination of the complete travel of the ,eear about the fined pinion.

The provision at the jointv for the platform mounting upon the rotatable head provides a direct driving movement thereof and removes all rotative strain from the tilting, shaft which is merely used to effectk positively operated and. the tilting move.

incnt definitely effected through the slide connection which materially eliminates the wear and strain incident upon .working parts` in which the center of weight is changed during their travel.

rIhe driving connections shown provide for the adequate control as to speed and direetion of the movement of the platform and by a proper ratio of the gears the extent and period of the tilting movement may be changed as well the speed of the plat'- form.

lVhile the specific details of construction have been shown and described, still the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a tiltable roundabout, a rotatable head, a universal joint mounted thereon for bodily rotation,l a platform support carried by said joint and rotatable about the rotative axis of he head, a shaft depending from said support, and a connection from the head to eifect movement of one end of said shaft alternately in opposite directions during continued rotation'of the universal joint.

2. In a tiltable roundabout, a rotatable head, a support mounted thereon for universal movement, a shafty depending from the support, a gear carried by said head eccentric toits axis of rotation, and a link connection therefrom to the lower end of said shaft.

3. In a tiltable roundabout, a driven head provided with a support mounted for universal movement thereon, a shaft depending from the support, an eccentric gear carried-by said head out of alignment with said shaft, a link connection from said head to the lower end ot' said shaft, a slide bar mounted in the head, and a box slidable thereon and having pivotal connections to said shaft and to said link.

4. In a tiltable roundabout, standards provided with a top plate, a head provided with a master gear and rotatably mounted upon said plate, a pivoting plate carried by the upper portion of said head, a universal joint mounted upon said pivoting` plate and having a connection between said joint and gear disposed to travel in a planetary path relative to the rotative axis of the gear, and supporting members rigidly carried by said joint.

5. In a tiltable roundabout, standards provided with a top plate, a head provided with a master gear and rotatably mounted upon said plate, a pivoting plate carried by the upper portion of said head, a universal joint mounted upon said pivoting plate, supporting members carried by said joint, a shaft depending from said supporting members, a pinion centrally secured to said top plate, an eccentric gear carried by the master gear for planetary travel around said pinion, and a link extending from the eccentric gear to control the vlower end of said shaft.

6. In a tiltable roundabout, standards provided with a top plate, a head provided with a master gear and rotatably mounted upon said plate, a pivoting plate carried by the upper portion of said head, a universal joint mounted upon said pivoting plate, supporting members carried by said joint, a shaft depending from said supporting members, a pinion centrally secured .to said top plate, an eccentric gear carried by the master gear for planetary travel around said pinion, a link extending from the eccentric gear to control the lower end of said shaft, a cross bar extending diametrically of the head, *a .boxing slidably mounted thereon, a pivotal connection between said shaft and boxing, and a pivot upon said boxing to receive the link connection with said eccentric gear. f i

7. In a tiltable roundabout, standards provided with a top plate, a-master gear disposed thereon, a head secured to said master gear, a rotatable universal joint having its axes disposedat the upper portion of said head and a depending` connection geared from the rotative axis of the master gear to traverse a path planetary thereto, and a supporting structure carried by the upper portion of said joint. l

8. In a tiltale roundabout, standards provided with a top plate, a master gear disposed thereon, an intermediate bearing plate carrying balls, a head having a flange secured to said master gear, a universal jointY disposed at the upper portion of said head, a supporting structure carried by the upper portion of said joint,- and an idler roll carried by the standards and adapted to travel upon the flange of said head.

9. In a tilting roundabout, a. rotatable head, a universal joint provided` at the upper portion thereof and having a easing socket, a tilting shaft disposed in said socket, a yoke carried by the lower portion of said shaft, a cross bar secured to said head, a slide box mounted upon the cross bar and pivotally connected to said yoke, a pivot depending from said box, a link mounted upon said pivot, a rotatable gear carried by the master gear and having an eccentric connection with said link, and a fixed pinion about which said rotatable gear travels in a planetary path.

10. In a tiltable roundabout, a rotatable platform provided with seats, a driving head carrying a universal joint connection rotatable therewith and supporting said platform, a tilting member connected to a member of said joint and adapted to travel around the axis of the head, means for shift- -ing said member to effect a rocking movement of the platform, a driving shaft for said head, and a motor therefor adapted to control its speed and opposite directions of travel.

li. In a tiltable roundabout, a rotatable platform provided with seats, a driving head having a universal joint connection rotatable therewith and supporting said platforii'i, a tilting member connected to a member of said oint and adapted to travel around the axis of the head, means for shifting seid member to effect a rocking movement of the platform, a driving shaft for said head, a motor therefor adapted to control its speed and opposite directions of travel, and brake means for controlling the movement of said head.

l2. In a tiltable roundabout, a rotatable platform provided with seats, a driving iead having a universal joint connection with said platform, a tilting member' connected to a member' of said oint and adapted to travel around the axis, a driving shaft for said head, a motor therefor adapted to control its speed and opposite directions of travel, brake means for controlling the movement of said head, a depending` skirt carried by the periphery of said platform, and a cooperating skirt upon the fixed floor surrounding said platform.

13. In a tiltable roundabout, a base carrying a master gear, a head secured thereto, a pivot plate mounted upon said head, a universal joint mounted in said plate, a clamping plate having a yoke mounted upon said universal joint, a casing provided upon said yoke and projecting upwardly therefrom, a cap cooperating with said clamping plate to support radiating arms, and braces extending from said cap to a platform carried by said arms.

14. ln a tiltable roundabf'iut, a base carrying a master gear, a head secured thereto, a pivot plate mounted upon said head, a universal joint mounted in said plate, a clan'iping plate having a yoke mounted upon said universal joint, a casing provided upon said yoke and projecting upwardly therefrom, a cap cooperating with said clamping` pli support radiating arms, a shaft mounted in said casing and depending therefrom, and means for imparting an eccentric movement to the lower ond of said shaft.

l5. ln a tiltable roundabout, a head provided with driving means, a universal joint at the upper portion of said head rotatable therewith, a casing projecting upward from the upper member of` said joint, a support carried by said joint, a shaft rotatably' projecting upward from the upper member of said oint, a support carried by said oint, shaft rotatably mounted in said casing and carrying at its lower end a yoke member, a

slide bar mounted upon lugs at opposite sides of the head, a block mounted upon said bar and having pivots disposed in said yoke, means for reciprocating said block upon said bar, a fixed pinion extending through the base of said head, a rotatable gear carried by said base for planetary travel around the pinionand a link connection eccentrically from said gear to reciprocate said block.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNST F. TROIKE. 

